Accepting Suffering with Grace, even Gratitude

[savedbygrace71]

How can I do this, or at least improve my efforts? I have had migraine my whole adult life (I’m 42) and the last few months they’ve been unstoppable. I thought I’d straightened things out in October but that wasn’t the case. I had an appointment with a headache specialist and he diagnosed me with Chronic Daily Headache, which is a progression of my condition and difficult to control. It’s basically the new me, headaches which are very easy to trigger and hard to kill.

Among other things to do to help, he has me on a very strict detox diet. We eat pretty clean in our house anyway, but on top of no red meat, no processed foods, no restaurant foods, and minimal carbohydrates, he has additionally eliminated all dairy, and any beverage except water- no decaf coffee, no tea, no nothing. I am feeling sorry for myself today, the first day of complying with this. I gave up caffeine a couple of months ago and truly look forward to my decaf black tea with milk. This morning I had hot water It’s not so much of a sacrifice especially if I can start to feel better, but I could use some words of wisdom to motivate me. I’m in serious pain, and all my comfort foods are off limits.

When I’ve read about certain saints being able to welcome pain and suffering as a closeness to Christ, I feel as though I just can’t do it. My head hurts so.darn.much. I can barely take care of my kids, and I don’t know how to mentally take that step to let it bring me closer to Him. Help me, please!

 

[ccmcmg]

I am so sorry for your pain. I have suffered off and on from headaches, not to your extent though, my whole life.

First, I often pray to St. Teresa of Avila, patron saint of migraine sufferers.

I have difficulty offering up my suffering for others, and didn’t really understand it. I had prayed to understand it, but didn’t…until one day, as I was trying to rest, and was simply praying “Jesus, I love you”, and He gave me the answer.

Many years ago, I went through what was for me a very traumatic and painful experience. It almost killed me, and nearly ruined my life as well as my family’s. What was more, it was at the hands of another person who had the ability not to cause this experience and pain, so I had absolutely no control over it. After I finally made it through, I told my husband that perhaps if I went through that, it would be worth it if it meant that someone else wouldn’t. (This particular person could not have done this to anyone else but me; it was unique to the two of us; it wasn’t anything criminal.) Fast forward to this year: that afternoon, God revealed that what I had done was to offer my own suffering up back then, without even knowing it. It’s like there is a certain amount of suffering in this world to go around, and I took some of it so that someone else wouldn’t have to suffer. Maybe if you can look at it like that, it will ease some, or at least help. Maybe dedicate that day’s pain in the morning to a certain cause? The headache-of-the-day cause/charity. (Just thought of that…I’m going to do that, actually)

More:
2heartsnetwork.org/Avila.htm
catholicism.about.com/od/tosainttheresaofavila/p/Novena_Teresa_of_Avila.htm

God bless and keep you and your family.

 

[savedbygrace71]

Thank you Christina, that is actually really, really helpful. Not long ago my son had his tonsils out and on the second day when he was starting to actually feel some pain, I remember praying, please God, I’ll take his pain, please give it to me…as I am sure most parents do. If I can hold that feeling in my prayers, that my suffering could be taken on in place of a child’s, that would certainly help me take it in stride.
Have a blessed day~

 

[China123]

I am so sorry for your pain. I have suffered off and on from headaches, not to your extent though, my whole life.

First, I often pray to St. Teresa of Avila, patron saint of migraine sufferers.

I have difficulty offering up my suffering for others, and didn’t really understand it. I had prayed to understand it, but didn’t…until one day, as I was trying to rest, and was simply praying “Jesus, I love you”, and He gave me the answer.

Many years ago, I went through what was for me a very traumatic and painful experience. It almost killed me, and nearly ruined my life as well as my family’s. What was more, it was at the hands of another person who had the ability not to cause this experience and pain, so I had absolutely no control over it. After I finally made it through, I told my husband that perhaps if I went through that, it would be worth it if it meant that someone else wouldn’t. (This particular person could not have done this to anyone else but me; it was unique to the two of us; it wasn’t anything criminal.) Fast forward to this year: that afternoon, God revealed that what I had done was to offer my own suffering up back then, without even knowing it. It’s like there is a certain amount of suffering in this world to go around, and I took some of it so that someone else wouldn’t have to suffer. Maybe if you can look at it like that, it will ease some, or at least help. Maybe dedicate that day’s pain in the morning to a certain cause? The headache-of-the-day cause/charity. (Just thought of that…I’m going to do that, actually)

More:
2heartsnetwork.org/Avila.htm
catholicism.about.com/od/tosainttheresaofavila/p/Novena_Teresa_of_Avila.htm

God bless and keep you and your family.

Thank you ccmcmg for sharing that. I had a similar thought recently about the role of suffering and your story really helped

 

[ccmcmg]

Glad I could help…I have a tendency to ramble.